Crossing the Line

“Do you know my favorite thing about working the twenty-four hour shift?” Logan asked turning to lean against the counter with her mug of tea. “Dragging me out of bed for no good reason before ten o’clock,” Jackie grumbled putting her head down on the counter. Logan just laughed and shook her head. “No it’s because I then I have the whole day off and I don’t have to do anything but sleep and usually pay bills because you never remember to,” Logan said receiving a string of curse words and the middle finger from her roommate. “Jackie you don’t even have a long shift today, you work from twelve to six,” Logan said rolling her eyes. Jackie picked her head up, looked at Logan then clock and back to Logan. “Alright bitch it’s eight in the morning I shouldn’t have to be up this early so fuck you!” Jackie said staring daggers at Logan who just shrugged. “You don’t scare me and you know we have things to do today. We have to work on packing boxes if we’re going to move into Tuukka’s condo. It’s already almost August and our lease is up in September so we could be slowly packing up and moving in,” Logan said scribbling things down on a list. Nothing scared Jackie more than when Logan made a list, her best friend finished a list it didn’t matter how as long as it all got done in that day. “Logan put the pen down. Let’s be rational here,” Jackie said walking toward her slowly. She was saved from whatever torture Logan had planned for her by Logan’s phone ringing loudly in the other room. Jackie moved across the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea and start breakfast while Logan was on the phone with who she assumed was either Tuukka or Cam.
“How’s the goon?” Jackie asked stirring their eggs to make sure they wouldn’t burn. “You know him?” Logan asked, the surprise clear in her voice as she grabbed down two plates. Jackie frowned and put some eggs on each plate. “Who was on the phone?” she inquired now thoroughly confused. Logan sighed when she saw how much food Jackie gave her and moved to get them silverware. “It was Alex he called to see if I could go to dinner tonight,” Logan said as if it was no big deal. “Hold the fuck up,” Jackie cried pointing the still hot but empty frying pan at her roommate. “Did you just get asked on a date?” she demanded. Logan nodded her head and tried to stop her cheeks from flushing. “Jeez Logan! That’s a big deal!” Jackie exclaimed throwing the frying pan in the sink to deal with later. She was excited for Logan, after meeting Cam or one of the guys people tended to just be friends with Logan not ask her on dates. “It’s just dinner Jackie calm yourself,” Logan brushed off her excitement. “Just dinner? Logan what are you going to wear? Where are you going? What time is he picking you up? We have to call the girls! Maybe we should go shopping, can we afford to shop this month?” Jackie interrogated frowning trying to think. Logan rolled her eyes and took a bite of eggs doing her best to ignore Jackie. “If you don’t tell them I will,” Jackie threatened getting annoyed by how laid back Logan seemed. “Jacqueline, it’s eight in the morning he’s not picking me up until six-thirty or seven tonight. We have time. I’ll do the bills and if we have money left we’ll go shopping with the girls. Now shut up and eat before I call him back and tell him I can’t go tonight because I have to comfort my best friend’s mother after the untimely death of my best friend,” Logan warned her tone light but her words poisonous. Jackie raised her hands in surrender and ate her breakfast as she was told.
Logan walked into Jackie’s room and found her on the phone, most likely with one of the girls. “No Jess I’m serious she thinks it’s no big deal that this guy is willing to put up with death threats to take her to dinner!” Jackie said to her sister sounding exasperated. Logan flopped down on Jackie’s bed next to her best friend. “I hate to break up this conversation but we have to call the girls if you want to go shopping before you have to go to work,” Logan said and then grabbed Jackie’s phone to say hi to Jackie’s sister Jessica. “And tell Erica I say hi and pass my love along to Donna and Patrick but no one else. If anyone else wants my love than he can call once in a while,” Logan said both Jackie and Jess laugh. “On that note we have to get ready and get going so I’ll hand you back to Jacqs,” Logan said giving the phone back and sending a text in the WAGs group message to see if anyone wanted to get an early lunch and window shop. “Jackie we’re meeting some of the girls at Thinking Cup at ten so be ready! You’ll have to go right to work so bring your scrubs,” Logan called grabbing a dress and heading for a shower. Washing her mass of curls was a struggle so Logan just decided that she’d have to put it up and hoped she had enough bobby pins. “Hurry the fuck up bitch!” Jackie yelled through the door. Logan laughed going as fast as she could slipping on her sundress and throwing her damp hair in a messy bun. “I’m not wearing make up,” she announced throwing her towel in the hamper and making note that she needed to do laundry while Jackie was at work. “You probably should, it really does wonders,” a masculine voice teased from the doorway near the kitchen. Logan jumped in surprise and turned to see Tuukka looking at her with laughter in his eyes. “Let’s go bitch! We have to get out gossip on!” Jackie shouted sliding into the room on her flip flops. “Oh. You’re here. Walk and talk goalie walk and talk, places to be things to do,” Jackie said ushering them both to the door and handing Logan her purse. Tuukka and Logan laughed at Jackie’s anxious demeanor as she herded them into elevator. “Where are you two off to in such a hurry?” he asked laughing at them. “We’re meeting some of the girls for lunch and a shopping trip,” Logan said waving her hand as if to dismiss Jackie’s hard look when she left out the where and why. “I can drop you off if you’d like,” Tuukka offered. Before Logan could tell him they’d be alright on the T Jackie thanked him and said they’d love that. Logan rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry she’s just really excited and doesn’t want to miss a thing because she has to work at twelve,” Logan explained when Jackie raced for Tuukka’s car.
“Thanks for the ride!” Jackie cried jumping out of the car and running to talk to Katie and Mel outside of Thinking Cup. Tuukka just laughed and raised his hand. “Thanks for putting up with her,” Logan smiled and kissed his cheek before following her roommate over with their friends. “Who’s the guy?” Katrina Sloane, Brad’s girlfriend asked when she joined them. “Alex, he used to play hockey with Cam that’s how they met,” Jackie answered for Logan. Unbeknownst to the girls, Tuukka was stuck trying to pull out of the spot and could hear their giggling conversation. “Guys relax, it’s dinner. We don’t even know if it’s going anywhere. It might not even be a date maybe he just wants to hang out as friends,” Logan said trying to calm them down. Tuukka chuckled; only Logan would think that a guy would ask her on a date to be friends. “It’s a date you dumb fuck,” Jackie growled. As Tuukka was finally able to pull away from the curb he heard Logan chastising her best friend for using swearwords when there could be kids around to hear her. “Britt isn’t coming and no one else here has kids ergo I can say what I want,” Jackie responded sticking her tongue out. “Excuse me but Britt is coming,” Brittany said walking up behind them with Valentina on her hip. “Do we get to play pass the baby?” Mel asked excitedly noticing Brittany’s lack of stroller. Britt laughed and nodded her head as the group filed into Thinking Cup. “So Logan tell us all about this mystery Alex,” Mel prompted while they waited for their coffees. “He seems like a nice guy. Cam doesn’t like him because he was a womanizer in college but the rest of the team never seemed to have a problem with him even though I only know three or four of them. But yeah if we could keep this on the down low that would be wonderful because I don’t want the poor guy to die just because he asked me to dinner,” Logan implored her eyes pleading. Everyone agreed expect Brittany who looked guilty. Logan sighed, “You told Milan didn’t you?” Brittany nodded her head. “I had to! I was so excited I couldn’t help myself!” she defended and the girls laughed, cut off by their coffee orders before they could make fun of Brittany. “So what’s the plan?” Logan asked taking a sip of her hazelnut latte. “Well we’re going to help you get ready so you can look you’re very best so we can start the date off right. Oh and we’re going to fend off the guys in case they show up to threaten him,” Katie said as if it were obvious. Logan laughed at the enthusiasm around her, “Then let the fun begin!”
“I’m here! I got your messages and I got here as fast as I could!” Jackie yelled running to the apartment dropping her bag in her dash to Logan’s room. “She locked us out,” Katie said explaining why the four of them were on the bed without Logan in the room. Jackie nodded and left the room walking to the bathroom. “Logs it’s me,” she called through the door and heard the lock pop as the door was opened. As soon as Jackie had slipped into the bathroom Logan locked the door again and went back to her make up. “They were trying too hard. I prefer natural and this was the only way I could think of,” Logan answered Jackie’s unspoken question. Jackie laughed and shook her head. “They think you’re in here freaking out about the date not doing your make up calmly. As hard as they were trying they did a great job with your outfit,” Jackie complimented looking at the white skirt and pink top paired with brown wedges and brown accessories. “I know I have to give them that,” Logan agreed with a sigh. “Any sign of the guys yet?” Logan asked changing the topic. “Um,” Jackie mumbled not wanting to tell her that there was a group of guys in the lobby. “Logan, Alex is here!” Brittany called through the apartment. Logan sighed, “That’s my cue. Thanks for saving me Jacqs.” Logan left the bathroom and waved to her friends in her room. “Bye Val,” she said giving the girl a kiss when she protested Logan’s leaving. “Wow you look beautiful,” Alex said smiling at her. Logan blushed unused to compliments and thanked him. “After you,” he offered Logan his arm and she heard Brittany sigh contentedly behind them. The two made small talk all the way to the lobby. When the elevator doors opened she groaned seeing the guys trying to look casual and in disguise. Alex opened the door for her and as she walked out Logan held up her middle finger behind her making the guys chuckle.
“Are they your body guards?” Alex asked in the car referring to the group that had been watching him. Logan grimaced making him laugh. “They’ve taken a special interest in mine and Jackie’s well being thanks to my friendship with some of their girlfriend’s as well all of our friendship with my brother,” she explained hoping they didn’t dwell on the topic. “If they threatened you already I’m so sorry I told them to be on their best behavior and they promised to play nice,” Logan said not wanting it to ruin their night. “I’ll have to remember that you have a lot of people looking out for you. I don’t want them to beat up for trying to take you away,” Alex said glancing at Logan and catching her blush. “So do I get to know where we’re going or is it a surprise?” Logan asked her tone indicating she hated surprises. “Surprise,” Alex informed her with a laugh. They chatted about music preferences for the rest of the drive and Logan’s heart dropped when they pulled into the parking lot for a steak house just outside the city.
“You know I never would have pegged you as a salad on the first day kind of girl,” Alex admitted taking a sip of his drink. Logan shrugged, “I’m a vegetarian so it’s a common thing for me.” Alex almost choked on his drink. “You’re a vegetarian? Why didn’t you say something when we got here? I took a vegetarian to a steak house,” he exclaimed. Logan smiled at him across the table. “I didn’t have the heart. Everything in your body language suggested you were excited to be here and I didn’t want my life style choice to mess that up,” she explained making him chuckle. “You really are something else,” Alex shook his head. “So what else don’t I know about you?” Alex asked curious to hear all about the beautiful red head across from him. Logan told him about playing hockey for Northeastern in college and nursing school, she told him about her job and how she was currently trying to specialize in blood disorders so that she would be able to further her degree, all while asking him questions about his life. “You have some wonderful stories,” Alex laughed almost choking on his steak when Logan told him about a pregame ritual for freshmen at Northeastern. “You have the seniors to thank for that,” she smiled and blushed. “So you’re a nurse, do you have an early shift tomorrow?” Alex asked not wanting to get her home too late. “I have to be there at about six tomorrow,” Logan told him and smiled to herself when he immediately flagged the waitress for the check. “Don’t even offer to pay. I took you out so this is on me,” Alex said when he noticed Logan reaching for her purse. She held her hands up in surrender, laughing. The ride back to her place was quieter, each of them thinking about dinner and reflecting on how it went. “Thank you for a lovely time,” Logan said with a smile when they got to her building. “You don’t need to walk me up, it wouldn’t be a good idea to leave a nice car on the street at this hour,” she explained before kissing his cheek and getting out. With a wave she disappeared into the building and ran for her apartment to tell Jackie everything.

Notes